CONTROVERSIAL plans to create a major opencast mine on the former Tower Colliery site took a step forward this week.

A planning application by Tower Regeneration Ltd for permission to remove 5.8m tonnes of coal during the next seven years came before the local authority yesterday (Tuesday, December 9).

Councillors were expected to sanction a fact-finding site visit before making any decision on the major development proposal.

Concerned residents were also be able to attend the site meeting.

The scheme would also see the removal of old coal and iron working, a large tip, washery site and all signs of industrial dereliction.

Once the project is completed, the site would be re-contoured and landscaped for future re-development with a nature conservation area and an education centre built.

Mine bosses maintain the project would create up to 300 new jobs and pave the way for the future regeneration of the land to transform the Tower site to the ‘Cardiff Bay of the Valleys’. The application has been submitted with an environmental statement and health impact assessment.

RCT’s Planning Director, Jane Cook, said in a report to councillors, that a site visit would give them the opportunity to see the physical characteristics of the site and the potential impact the proposed development would have on the community.

Ms Cook said that in view of local interest, a large venue was needed to determine the application, possibly the Michael Sobell Centre or Mountain Ash Comprehensive School.

No date has been set for the planning application to be determined by RCT’s development control committee.